Cera's Place (24 page)

“Isaac has told me quite a lot about you over the years,” Tessa explained. “You have a habit of helping those less fortunate than you. I know that several of your former workers have better lives now because you encouraged them.”

“So I’ve helped some people along the way, that doesn’t make me great. In fact, if I hadn’t decided to help Hu, then none of this would have happened. Helping people isn’t always a good idea.”

“Do you really believe that? Did you even have a choice? Could you have thrown Hu out of your saloon that night, knowing that her father had just been murdered? ”

“No, of course not,” Cera replied. “What those men did was wrong and they have to pay for it, but at what price to us? I’m not out to save the world. I just want my life back the way it was. I want to be safe again.”

Tessa raised an eyebrow at her. “Yes, that would be nice, but maybe you should take it a step further. Get rid of this man Biggs and make sure that another one doesn’t take his place. Make all of the Chinese women in the city safe—for good.”

Tessa’s words made her more curious than she cared to admit. “How can I do that?”

“I know a few people in the city’s government that are sympathetic to the Chinese women being forced into prostitution. They want to pass a law, but are afraid to speak out. Given the right circumstances, I think you could persuade them to do their civic duty to these unfortunate women.”

“Why would they listen to me?”

Tessa smiled. “Why not you? You have accomplished more in your short lifetime than many men do over their whole lives. Give yourself some credit where it is due. Besides, could you forgive yourself if you didn’t try?” Not waiting for an answer, she linked arms with Cera and continued walking. “Did you know I’m a widow?”

She frowned at the quick change in topic. “No, I’m sorry. Isaac has never shared anything about your personal life.”

Tessa laughed at her admission. “Isaac is a very proper man, but he feels guilty for his feelings toward me. He loved his wife very much. I suppose he feels that he is betraying her or some such nonsense.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?” Cera asked in disbelief.

Tessa lifted her shoulders slightly. “It’s complicated. My husband and Isaac were friends…”

She mulled this over for a few steps. Feeling a newfound closeness to the older woman, she asked, “How did your husband pass on?”

“Well, like the majority of the widows now days, he was claimed by the war. I lost my husband and my two sons.”

Cera’s free hand covered her heart in sympathy. “Oh, Madame, I had no idea,” she apologized.

“We built this big house assuming it would be filled with grandchildren one day, but that wasn’t to be.” Tessa eyes shone with tears, but none fell. She took Cera’s hands in her own. “So you see, I understand what it means to lose someone you have loved, and I understand how bittersweet a second chance at love can be. You are still young. Whether things work out with Mr. Tanner or not, you cannot give up on life. You can find love again if you are open to it. Life without love is not worth living.”

Remembering her earlier vow, Cera closed her eyes against the threatening tears. “I just don’t understand why he left. It makes no sense to me.”

Tessa sighed. “No, but men aren’t the most sensible creatures. However, we should get back now. I’ve kept you long enough and Isaac is waiting.”

As they followed the path toward the house in silence, she pondered Tessa’s idea about passing a protection law for the Chinese women. It was such a simple idea she couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of it herself. Of course, getting rid of Biggs wasn’t going to solve the problem. There would just be another low life waiting in line to take his place. If she could get the Chinese scroll to the chief of police and Tessa’s friends would help her with the legislation, she could really help the poor Chinese women—and maybe that act of kindness would ease some of the pain in her aching heart.

*******

With the morning growing hot and having no clear destination in mind, Jake let Oneida set the pace. He had chosen the general direction of Mexico, but that was all he had planned—that and not stopping in San Francisco—not even for the night.

He tried to keep his mind occupied by reciting every Spanish word he knew, but Cera’s beautiful face and soft curves kept appearing before his eyes. Finally, giving up on the foreign language, he instead went over every moment of lovemaking they had shared.

Snorting in disgust at his lack of willpower and self-inflicted misery, he pulled Oneida to a stop. Taking his canteen, he wetted his bandana and wiped down his face and neck. He took a moment to survey the countryside. The surrounding land was still hilly, causing the road to dip and rise. He figured he was about halfway between the winery and the forest where they had killed Biggs’ men.

In the far distance, a cloud of dust caught his eye. Curious, he reached into his saddlebag for his field telescope. Focusing on the horizon, his mouth went dry. A dozen men rode toward him at top speed. Jake didn’t need to see their faces—his gut told him who they were. There were very few reasons to run a horse hard, and none of them was good.

He wheeled Oneida around and kicked her into a gallop. Counting on the mustang’s natural speed, he hoped it would be enough to get him back to the winery in time to warn the others that Biggs had found them.

*******

When Cera and Tessa entered the great room, they found Isaac clutching a piece of paper, his face distraught. Ginger, Sonya, Mary Beth, Sadie, and David sat nearby, ashen and silent.

Preparing for the worst, Cera asked, “What happened?”

Isaac ran a shaky hand over his mouth. “We received a telegram from my housekeeper. After we left the city, a police officer found Sam in a warehouse by the docks. His body was beaten so badly, at first the officer thought he was dead. The boy said Biggs and two of his men forced him to tell where we had gone.”

Cera closed her eyes against the image of her young friend, hurt and bloodied. Inhaling deeply to steady her voice, she asked, “So you think Biggs is on his way here?”

“I know he is.”

Cera whirled at the low, familiar voice. Jake stood in the doorway covered in road dust.

He tipped his hat at Tessa. “Forgive my appearance, Madame. When I saw the men in the distance, I rode back to warn you, but I guess you already know.”

Leaping up from the couch, Ginger ran to Jake and threw herself in his arms. “I knew you wouldn’t desert us!”

Jake’s face flushed as he disentangled himself from Ginger’s embrace.

The shock of seeing him again set Cera’s heart pounding. She dug her fingernails deep into her palm and focused on the pain. “Ginger, I think you’re jumping to conclusions. Jake came back to warn us—not to help us.”

“Tell her she’s wrong.” Ginger searched Jake’s face for an answer, but he remained silent, his mouth pressed into a grim line. “Please, you have to help us!”

Tessa walked over to Jake and took him by the arm. “I think your friend has seen and done enough killing in his lifetime. It’s not fair to ask him to do anymore. A man can carry around only so much pain before it eats him alive. We can manage without you, Mr. Tanner. Thank you for warning us.”

As Tessa led him from the room, Ginger turned to Cera with tears streaming down her face. “You have to make him stay.”

Cera stared at the doorway, unable to move. She knew her friend was right, but what could she say or do to change his mind? Forcing herself to follow them into the foyer, she called out, “Jake…”

Tessa shook her head at Cera. “No. Let him go while he still can.”

“Madame, you don’t have time to argue with me. Whether Jake stays or goes, you need to get your staff to a safe place. I assume you have some kind of a root cellar, something with a strong door?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Good. How many guns do you have?”

“My husband was an avid hunter. We have at least a dozen.”

Cera nodded her approval. “Then get your staff into the cellar and tell them to stay quiet. Leave four of the guns with them and give the rest to Isaac and my friends. If Biggs gets past us, maybe he’ll think your staff left because of the trouble. If not, then they will at least be able to defend themselves.”

“I’ll see to it immediately,” Tessa replied.

“And Madame? You also must stay in the cellar.”

Tessa again shook her head at Cera. “No, that I cannot do. This is my house and I will defend it.”

“I appreciate that, but Isaac will never forgive me if something happens to you.”

“When I said my husband was an avid hunter, I wasn’t being entirely truthful. He loved the outdoors, but never really took a liking to the killing part of hunting. If we wanted meat, it was up to me. I’m a pretty good shot, if I do say so myself.”

Cera threw her hands up in resignation. “Fine, have it your way, but please, go gather your staff.”

Tessa hurried off, shouting orders to anyone who could hear her.

Suddenly finding herself alone with Jake, Cera’s resolve crumbled. Dropping her head, she said softly, “I agree with Tessa. We have no right to ask you to stay.” She closed her eyes, trying to choose the best words. “You may think you’re not good enough for me, but I’m damaged in my own way too. Maybe we can help each other.” Looking up, she tentatively touched the rough stubble on his cheek with her fingertips. When he didn’t pull away, she continued. “Jake, I love you, I miss you, and I need you. Please stay with me—and not because of Biggs—but because of us.”

Jake stood mute, staring at her with sad eyes.

“I’ll beg if I have to,” she offered. “I can’t take you leaving again.”

Finally, he broke his silence. “I’m the one who should beg. I didn’t want to hurt you and I didn’t want to leave you, but I didn’t know what else to do. Will you forgive me?”

Cera responded by seizing his shirt and pushing him against the front door. She crushed her lips against his, pouring every ounce of her love into the kiss. Wrapping her fingers in his hair, she used it as an anchor, while she pressed her body against his. She attacked his mouth until they were both breathless. Breaking off her assault, she took a step back. “Does that answer your question?”

A slow grin spread across his face. “I’m not sure. Could you tell me again?”

Chapter 15

Back in the great room with the others, Cera distributed the firearms and divided the ammunition while Jake drew a rough sketch of the house’s floor plan and surrounding grounds. To prepare them for what was coming, he went through various plans of attack he thought Biggs might use.

“Our biggest problem is the size of this house. There are too many windows and doors, and not enough of us. There won’t be any way to keep them from getting in.” He turned to Tessa. “I’m sorry, Madame, some of your possessions are bound to get destroyed.”

Tessa shrugged her shoulders at this. “Everything but our lives can be replaced. We will do what has to be done.”

“Good, then we will pick one room to make a stand in.” Jake considered his drawing for a moment. “Here,” he said pointing at the library. “The furniture is heavy and can be used to barricade access points and shield us during gunfire. Let’s move there now.”

“Wait, we need to get Li and Hu,” Ginger reminded them. “I think they’re in the garden outside of her bedroom.”

“You all go ahead to the library. I’ll fetch them,” Cera offered, double-checking her gun.

Jake shook his head. “Isaac or David can go. I want you with me.”

“Listen, you’ll need their strength to set up the defenses in the library. As strong as I am from toting whiskey cases, I’m willing to admit most men are stronger. Besides, I need to get the Chinese scroll from my room. There’s no way I’m letting Biggs get that back.”

“All right, but hurry.” His eyes held hers for a moment longer, not bothering to hide his worry or his love.

Giving him a quick smile, she nodded and ran off in the direction of the guest wing. As she neared Hu’s bedroom door, a mixture of Cantonese and English came from the garden. Knowing that Madame Tessa’s staff was in the root cellar and everyone else in the library, she gripped her gun tighter and considered her options.

Retracing her steps, she opened the door to the bedroom next to Hu’s. Praying that whoever was outside wouldn’t see her, she moved to the patio door and peered out. Hu and Li sat in chairs facing a stranger holding a gun under Li’s chin. Keeping her eyes on the gunman, Cera opened the glass door and headed for the line of bushes that served as a border between each bedroom’s patio.

“How many people are in the house?” the stranger demanded. “Answer me or y’all be sorry!”

Li only shook his head in response. Frustrated, the man backhanded Li across the face with his gun, snapping back Li’s head with the force of the blow.

“No! No! No hurt him!” Hu screamed. “I tell you! Please, no hurt him! I tell you!”

The gunman nodded in satisfaction. “Well, now, that’s more like it. The China doll has got some sense in her. The boss told me to leave the saloon owner for him, but he didn’t say nothin’ about nobody else. Maybe if you do ‘xactly like I say, I’ll let you and your boyfriend here live. Of course, when I get done with you, maybe y’all wish you were dead.”